Coin-operated vending-machine.



I No. 689,106. Patented Dec. l7, 190i.

M. B. mus.

com OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Applicatioi filed Mar. 5, 1901.) (No lflod'el.)

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No. 689,")6. I -Patented Den. I7, 19m.

' m, B. IIIILLS.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(,Applicatian filed Mar. 5, 1901.) I (No Illqdel.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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M. B. MILLS.

Patented Dec. l7, l90| ODIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 5,

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N0. 689,!06. Patented De. l7, l90l.

M. B. MILLS.

COIN OPERATED VENDING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mar. 5, 1901.) (No Model.) 4 Shouts-Sheet A.

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UNTTnn STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

MORTIMER 13. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COIN-OPERATED VENDING-MACHINE.

SPEGIFXGAIION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,106, dated December17, I901. Applioationfiled March 5, 1901. Serial No. 49,903. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MORTIMER B. MILLS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Coin-Operated Vending-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the class of coin-operatedvending-machines in which the insertion is required of a coin of properdenomination to adapt the delivery mechanism to be actuated to performits function, and it relates more particularly, though not exclusively,to improvement in the variety of such machines used for vending bulkarticles from a magazine supplied therewith, such as peanuts, candies,popcorn, and the like.

The primary object of my improvement is to provide a greatly-simplifiedconstruction of such a machine whereby the operative parts shall keep inorder irrespective of the extent to which the machine is used, wherebythe operating parts shall be comparatively few and adapted to be madecheaply and to be readily assembled and held together at a single point,so that they may be quickly and conveniently taken apart and fastenedtogether, and whereby the device shall take up comparatively littleroom.

My invention consists in the general as well as in the more specificconstruction of my improved vending-machine, whereby this and otherobjects are accomplished.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in elevationof the machine. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are broken views of the machineinsectional elevation, the sections being taken, respectively, at thelines 2, 3, and t on Fig. 5 and viewed, as indicated by the arrows, toshow different parts of the mechanism in their relative positions. Fig.5 is a plan view of the machine with the m agazine-surmounted coverremoved to disclose the coin-operated mechanism; Fig. 6, a similar viewwith the operating-lever device removed to show the other parts of thecoin-operated mechanism below it; Fig. 7, a perspective view-of theoperating-lever device in its normallyrelative position to asupplemental stop-lever; Fig. 8, a section taken at the line 8 on Fig. 7viewed in the direction of the arrow and enlarged; and Figs. 9 and 10are similar views in sectional elevation of the coin-run portion of themachine, showing the coin by dotted representation in differentpositions to which it is brought by turning the operatingdever device byhand.

Ais a stand, shown as a hollow circularbase a, supported on legs a, witha hollow boss Z) projecting upward from its center and terminating in astud c. The bottom of the base a is thickened on its upper sidethroughout about one-half its area, the thickened portion, which isshown hollow, containing a triangular discharge-opening B, which leadsto the delivery-chute C extending from the bottom of the base, and thecoin-delivery slot d, which leads to a coin-chute e on the coinreceptacle D. This coin-receptacle is a mere box, shown as of generalrectangular shape, fitting about the edge of its mouth or open top in arectangular frame f, formed of flanges cast on the under surface'of thebottom of the base a. In the center of one of these flanges is cast aperforated lug g, and at the center of the opposite flange is cast aperforated lug 9 with its perforation extending at a right angle to thatin the lug g. From one side of the box D projects a stud g to enter theperforation in the lug g, and from the opposite side of the box projectsa slotted lug g to embrace the lug g lhe coin-chute 6 projects from aside of the box D at right angles to the sides thereof from which thelugs project.

To adjust and support the coin-receptacle in place, the stud g isinserted into the lug g, whereupon the receptacle is raised to bring itsupper edge within the frame f, whereby the lug g embraces the lug 9through which a padlock L may be fastened to secure the coin-receptacle.In the adjusted position of the receptacle D the coin-chute e coincideswith the coin-delivery slot d in the basea.

In the deeper or thinner section of the bottom of the base a isfulcrumed between its ends, for a purpose hereinafter explained, a leverE, provided at one end with an upwardprojecting stop-lug h.

F is a wheel having a hollow hub 2' to journal on the boss Z), with ahole t" in its upper end, through which the stud 0 projects. Be-

tween the hub and the rim j of the wheel extend radially-flaring pockets0, open at top and bottom and shown as nine in number and correspondingin shape with that of the discharge-opening B. About the base of therimjextends a ratchet-toothed flange j, from which rises a narrow outerrim j this rim and the flange carrying it being slotted radially, theslots being provided at equal intervals apart adjacent to the partitionsforming the pockets. Thus nine slots are shown to be provided. Aspring-dog 70 projects through the thicker portion of the base a toengage with the ratchet-teeth j for the purpose of holding the wheelagainst backward turning.

Gis the operating-lever, of general segment shape, having an annular hubc on its inner end and provided on its outer arc-shaped edge with adownwardly-depending lip 1, longer than the width of the outer edgeportion of the lever to project beyond the opposite ends thereof, andthe lever is spring-com trolled, as by connecting it, as shown, with thecircular wall (t of the base a through the medium of a spring m. Theoperating-lever is journaled at its hub 0 upon the stud 0, whereby thelip on its outer edge extends nearly to the inner surface of thecircular wall (L to which it conforms. In the top of the lever G is acoin-receiving slot at to register with any slot 70 over which it may bebrought by turning the operating-lever in the manner hereinafterdescribed through the medium of a grip-handle G, projecting outward fromthe lip Z across a rectangular recess a formed in the upper edge of thewall a to afford at its opposite ends stops 1; '0 for limiting theextent of throw of the lever. From one side of the slot 02 depends onthe lower surface of the lever a flat lug 0, which may be cast integralwith the lever, and from the opposite side of the same slot depends apermanently-magnetic bar I-I, parallel with and flatwise opposed to thelug to form therewith a passage and a temporary confinement fortheinserted coin, which, moreover, in case it is bogus and composed ofmetal attractively influenced by magnetism will be arrested by themagnet, as and for the purpose hereinafter eXplaineed.

Adjacent to the recess a in the wall about the bed is fastened at itsopposite ends'to the inner side of the wall a fiat spring 1) to projectinto the coin-run, as and for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The stand A is provided with a circumfere'ntially-fianged cover aprovided, preferably coincident with the wheel-rim j, with a circularcollar a on its upper side to afford a confining-seat for the lower endof the magazine I, which may be a glass jar provided on its upper endwith a cover a and firmly secured at its lower end, as bycementing,within the collar a. A hole q is formed in the center of thecover a to enable projection through it of the stud c, which has asocket 0 formed ve'rtieallyin its upper end to receive the lower end ofa rod 1', fastened into it,.the rod exscenes tending upward through thecenter of the magazine and projecting through its cover or, beyond whichit contains an eye 1' to receive the bolt of a lock, such as a padlockK, for securing the magazine-cover in place. The stand-cover a is shownfastened down by a pin a removably inserted over it into a hole 0 formedhorizontally in the side of the stud c, and this pin may likewise entera holes" in the side of the lower end portion of the rod 1" to fastenthe latter in the socket c. Adjacent to the inner side of the collar ais provided in the stand-cover a which forms the bottom of the magazine,a discharge-opening 0, preferably of the shape and cross-sectionaldimensions of each wheel-pocket O, with one of which it always registersin the normal position of the operating-lever G. A coin-insertion slot11 is also provided in the cover a outside the collar (i to registerwith the slot 11 in the lever G while the latter is in its normalposition, wherein the operatinghandle G abuts against the stop 1) at oneend of the throw-limiting recess a in the stand- Wall a By the describedconstruction the parts are conveniently assembled by journaling thewheel in the stand, and then journaling the operating-lever on the studc to cause the handle G to project through the recess a connecting thespring m to the wheel and adjusting the magazine-mounted cover a inplace. Then the parts may be secured together by inserting the pin a"into the stud c at its hole 0 and into the rod r, previouslyinsertedinto the stud-socket 0. Then the magazine has been filled with thematerial to be vended, the magazine-cover a is adjusted in place andlocked in the manner described, and then the apparatus, which may, afterunlocking the magazine-cover, be as conveniently taken apart as it wasassembled upon withdrawing the pin M, which locks the mechanism andpermits it to be unlocked at a single point, is ready to be operated asfollows: The wheel-pocket C,that registers with the discharge-opening 0when the lever G is in the normal position at which it is resilientlyheld by the spring m, will be filled from the contents of the magazineby gravity through the discharge-opening. To effect the delivery of thecontents of the filled pocket, the operator inserts a coin M of properdenomination into the coin-insertion slot 12, whence itenters thecoin-receiving slot 01' of the lever G, then registering with it, andpasses between the magnet H and lug o, lodging against the spring 1).The operator thereupon turns the lever G by turning the handle G towardthe left until it is arrested by the stop 0;, thereby dragging the coinin the coin-run formed by the space between the wall a and rim j alongthe confining-spring 1) until it clears the end of the latter. Then thecoin drops on the upper end of the rim in this movement of the lever andenters the first slot 76 encountered IIO by it, the depth of which,however, is not sufficient to take the coin entirely below the dependinglug 0, (which extends somewhat lower that its companion, the magnet IL)so that the coin forms an abutment projecting upward from thewheel Finto the returnpath of the lug, but below the plane of the spring 19.The right-hand extension of the depending lip Zon tl'ieoperating-leveris in the nature of a cam Z, normally depressing the adjacent end of thelever E to raise the stop h on its oppositeend into the path of the Wallof a pocket 0, that may be against it, and thus prevent undue turningtoward the right, in the manner hereinafter described, of the wheel F,and which is not obstructed by the spring-dog 7i} engaging theratchet-teeth When, however, the lever Gis turned towardthe left toeventually lodge the coin in a slotJa, the cam l is withdrawn from oneend of the wheel-locking lever E, thereby permitting its heavier lockingend to drop, and thus remove the lug it below the path of thepocket-walls to release or unlock the wheel. After turning the lever Gby hand toward the left,,as described, the operator releases the handleto permit the lever to be retracted by its controlling-spring m, whichin pulling it back until it is arrested by the handle engaging thestop odrags around with it the Wheel F. through the medium of the coinprojecting from a slot 7s into the path of the lug 0. In this way thefilled pocket 0, which was covered on its bottom by the base a, isbrought coincident with the discharge-opening B, through which thecontents of the pocket empty into the delivery-chute (J at which theymay be received in the operators hand or otherwise. When the filledpocket reaches its discharging position, the coin-receiving slot ncoincides with a slot 7r, then registering with the coin-delivery slotd, that leads to the coin-chute e, so that the coin thereupon dropsthrough the coin-chute into the receptacle D and the apparatus is readyfor another operation to discharge the contents of the next pocket thathas been automatically filled from the supply in the magazine and whichwas arrested in the turning movement of the wheel to register with thedischarge-openin g G by the cam Z riding over and depressing theadjacent end of the lever E to raise the stop h on its opposite end intothe path of the pocket-walls and by engaging one of them positively stopthe wheel. If a bogus coin be inserted of metal that will cause it to beattracted by the magnet H, it will fail to enable the machine to beoperated to effect the delivery, because it will be held by the magnetinstead of dropping into a slot 70 and forming the connecting-abutmentbetween the wheel and operatinglever, and therefore when the lever Gafter turning it toward the left is released it will fly backwithoutturning the Wheel. However, while such a bogus coin remainsbetween the magnet and lug o it will not prevent the subsequentinsertion of a coin, for the act of subsequent insertion will depressthe bogus coin in its path beyond the influence of the mag net past theyielding coin-stop afforded by the spring 1) and through thecoin-delivery slot and coin-chute into the receptacle.

The details of construction and particular combinations of parts shownand described may be variously departed from without departure from myinvention, which, therefore, is not intended to be limited thereto.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a hollowcovered stand having a delivery-opening for the material to be vended, acoin-delivery slot and a coin-insertion slot, a slotted pooket-containing wheel journaled in said stand, a magazine opening into said wheel, anoperating-lever having a coin-receiving slot by which it is adapted tobe connected by an inserted coin with said wheel at a slot therein toturn it, a magnet depending from said lever at its slot, and acoin-receptacle to which said coin-delivery slot leads, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

2. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a hollowcovered. stand containing delivery mechanism and having adelivery-opening, and a coin-insertion slot and a coin-delivery slotregistering with each other, an operating-lever journaled in said standand having a coin-receiving slot registering with said coin insert-ionand delivery slots when the lever is in its normal position, a yieldingcoin-stop in the coin-path through said slots and a coin-receptacle intowhich said coin-delivery slot leads, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a hollowcovered stand containing delivery mechanism and having adelivery-opening, and a coin-insertion slot and a coin-delivery slotregistering with each other, an operating-lever journaled in said standand having a coin-receiving slot. registering with said coin insertionand delivery slots when the lever is in its normal position, a yieldingcoin-stop in the coin-path through said slots, a passage having a sideformed with a magnet depending from the lever at its slot, and acoin-receptacle to which said coin-de livery slot leads, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a coin-operated vending apparatus,

the combination of a hollow covered stand having a delivery-opening forthe material to be vended, a coin-delivery slot and a coin-in sertionslot, a pocket-containing wheel rota tably supported on a journal insaid stand, said journal being extended through the stand-cover, andprovided with a transverse opening and a socket in its upper end, anoperating-lever fulcrumed on said journal and having a coin-receivingslot at which it is adapted to be connected by an inserted coin withsaid wheel to turn it, a covered magazine supported on said cover andopening through it into said wheel, a rod in the magazine extending atits lower end in said socket and provided therein with a transverseopening and passing at its upper end through the magazine-cover, a lockon the upper end of the rod for securing the magazine-cover, a pininserted through said openings in the journal and rod to fasten thelatter and secure the stand-cover, thereby fastening the mechanism inthe stand, and a coin receptacle to which said coin-delivery slot leads,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a hollowcovered stand surmounted by a magazine opening into it through itscover, a delivery-opening in the stand-base for the material to bevended, a coin-delivery slot in said base and a coin-insertion slot inthe cover, a pocket-containing flanged wheel journaled to rotatehorizontally in said stand and provided with slots at intervalsthrough'the flange, a spring-controlled operating-lever journaled insaid stand and having a coin-receiving slot and a lug depending thereat,and a spring for the lodgment of an inserted coin in the coin-run formedbetween the wall of the stand and the wheel, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

6. In a coin-operated vending apparatus, the combination of a hollowcovered stand surmounted bya magazine opening into it through its cover,a delivery-opening in the stand-base for the material to be vended, acoin-delivery slot in said base leading to a coin-receptacle below thestand, and a coini-nsertion slot in the cover, a pocket-containingflanged wheel journaled to rotate horizontally in said stand andprovided with slots at intervals through the flange and withcircumferential ratchet-teeth, a spring-dog en gaging said teeth, astop-lever fulcrumed between its ends and provided at one endwith a lugto project into the path of said pockets, a spring-controlledoperating-lever j ournaled in said stand, having a coin-receiving slotand a lug depending thereat and provided with a depending lip having acam extension at one end to engage with said stop-lever, and a springfor the lodgment of an inserted coin in the coin-run formed between theWall of the stand and the wheel, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

7. In a coin-operated vending apparatus,- the combination of a hollowcovered stand surmounted by a magazine opening into it through itscover, a delivery-opening in the stand-base for the material to bevended, a coin-delivery slot in said base leading to a coin-receptaclebelow the stand, and a coininsertion slot in the cover, a wheeljourna-led to rotate horizontally in said stand and formed with pocketsextending between its hub and inner rim and havinga circumferentialflange provided with ratchet-teeth and with an outer rim in the coin-runformed by the space between said inner rim and the wall of the stand,slots formed at intervals through saidflange and outer rim, a spring-dogengaging said teeth, a stop-lever fulcrumed between its ends andprovided at one end with a lug to project into the path of said pockets,a spring-controlled operating-lever journaled in said stand, having acoin-receiving slot and a lug depending thereat and provided with adepending lip having a cam extension at one end to engage with saidstop-lever, a spring for the lodgment of an inserted coin in saidcoin-run, a recess in the stand-wall forming stops at its opposite ends,and a handle on the operating-lever projecting through said recess, thewhole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially asdescribed.

MORTIMER B. MILLS.

In presence of D. W. LEE, ALBERT D. BAooI.

